What Happened to Kindness?

It feels like kindness is slipping away. Turn on the news, scroll through social media, or listen to politicians, and the world seems angrier than ever. Outrage has become the default setting.

Arguments replace discussions, division deepens, and public figures—many of whom should set an example—feed the flames rather than extinguish them.

Leaders like Donald Trump have built entire political identities around aggression, confrontation, and blame. Social media, designed to connect us, often fuels hostility instead.

So what happened?

When did kindness become weakness rather than strength?

And why does it matter—perhaps now more than ever?

The Culture of Outrage and Division

We live in a time when being loud, brash, and combative is often rewarded.

Outrage sells.

Politicians and media personalities have learned that conflict gets attention—more clicks, more shares, more votes.

Nuanced discussion and empathy don’t make headlines. Social media algorithms push divisive content because anger keeps people engaged.

The result?

A world where shouting is mistaken for strength, insults replace debate, and kindness is often seen as na?ve or unrealistic.

Children are growing up in this culture, witnessing world leaders mock opponents rather than work with them, seeing adults argue in comment sections instead of finding common ground.

Why Kindness Matters

At its core, kindness is not just about being nice. It’s about respect, empathy, and understanding. It’s about recognising the humanity in others, even when we disagree. And it’s one of the most powerful forces we have to repair a fractured world.

Kindness matters because:

It fosters connection.

When people treat each other with respect, relationships thrive.

Families, communities, and even entire societies function better when built on mutual care rather than hostility.

It reduces stress and anxiety.

Studies show that both giving and receiving kindness boosts mental well-being. Kindness literally makes us happier.

It’s a model for future generations.

Children learn by example. If they grow up seeing aggression and cruelty as the norm, that’s what they’ll repeat. But if they experience kindness—both in how they are treated and how they see adults interact—they’re more likely to carry it forward.

It can change conversations.

Imagine if, instead of attacking opponents, political leaders spoke with decency and sought common ground.

What if social media was used to uplift rather than tear down? The ripple effect of small acts of kindness could be immense.

Teaching Kindness in an Angry World

The challenge today is that kindness is no longer the default. It has to be actively taught, reinforced, and lived.

Here’s how we can make kindness a central part of our daily lives and pass it on to the next generation:

Model it in everyday interactions.

Children learn how to treat others by watching us. Small moments—thanking a cashier, holding a door open, speaking respectfully even in disagreement—leave a lasting impact.

Call out cruelty when we see it.

Whether it’s political leaders, social media influencers, or people in our communities, we need to challenge the idea that rudeness equals strength.

Teach digital kindness.

Online spaces have become breeding grounds for hostility.

Encouraging children (and ourselves) to pause before reacting, to engage with empathy, and to remember there’s a person behind every screen is crucial.

Celebrate kindness as a strength.

Stories of kindness should be as celebrated as stories of success.

Schools, workplaces, and communities should highlight examples of compassion as much as they do achievements.

Practice radical kindness.

In a world where anger dominates, being intentionally kind—especially to those who don’t expect it—can be a revolutionary act.

The World We Want to Create

Kindness is not about avoiding hard conversations or ignoring injustice. It’s about how we approach those conversations. It’s about whether we meet disagreement with open minds or clenched fists. It’s about whether we raise children who believe in tearing others down or building bridges.

Right now, anger is easy. Kindness is harder—but it’s also the only way forward. The world isn’t going to fix itself, and politicians aren’t going to change overnight. But we can change how we treat each other. And if enough of us choose kindness, the ripple effect could be greater than we ever imagined.

So, what happened to kindness?

Perhaps the better question is:

What are we going to do to bring it back?